Chapter 1062: The truth that remained buried

Deep beneath the quiet restaurant, the atmosphere inside one of the private rooms was cold and oppressive.

The room was spacious but sparsely furnished, with dark walls, recessed lighting, and a long rectangular table occupying its center. Several monitors were mounted along one wall, their screens displaying surveillance footage and encrypted files.

This was Blackhawk.

It was not merely a name. It was a designated meeting location known only to a select few within Lu Tian’s inner circle.

Hidden beneath an ordinary restaurant in a quiet district of Imperial, it served as a secure facility for matters too sensitive to be discussed at Lu Corps or over the phone.

Its existence was kept strictly confidential, and access was limited to those Lu Tian trusted.

No unnecessary personnel. No outside interference. And most importantly, no information leaves the room without his authorization.

Lu Tian sat at the head of the table, his tall figure leaning against the leather chair.

His black coat remained draped over his broad shoulders, and his expression was as indifferent as it had been when he entered the restaurant.

A few feet away stood Xu Long.

Unlike his usual relaxed demeanor, the assistant was unusually solemn.

He had known Lu Tian long enough to recognize the difference between his boss’s ordinary silence and the kind that preceded something unpleasant.

Right now, it was the latter.

"Start from the beginning."

Lu Tian’s deep voice broke the silence.

Xu Long straightened.

"Yes, Boss."

He took a quiet breath before beginning his report.

"A few days ago, Liu Shan discovered a discrepancy in the cleanup report following the destruction of Red Militant."

Lu Tian remained motionless.

"According to the original report, Liu Peng was among those killed during the operation. However, when Liu Shan reviewed the records, he discovered that the cleanup crew had mistakenly identified another body as his."

Xu Long paused briefly.

"In other words, Liu Peng survived."

Lu Tian’s expression did not change, but his dark eyes grew colder.

The operation against Red Militant had been thorough.

Between Fate and Wolf Team, they had eliminated the organization’s remaining forces and dismantled its operations.

Yet someone had managed to slip through.

Someone who had worked directly beneath Hung Woo.

Xu Long continued.

"Liu Shan, Lin Hui, and Qi Li began investigating his whereabouts without immediately reporting it to the Boss Lady. They eventually traced a vehicle connected to him to an abandoned building in Imperial, but by the time they arrived, the place had been cleared."

"Any evidence?"

"The vehicle had been wiped clean. They found nothing useful inside."

Lu Tian remained silent.

Xu Long proceeded to explain how the three men continued searching until they spotted Liu Peng moving through a crowded street.

He had been wearing a cap and an oversized coat, attempting to conceal his appearance.

Although he looked exhausted, he was still cautious enough to notice when someone lingered too close.

"The three followed him to a lounge bar," Xu Long said. "That was where I encountered them."

Lu Tian lifted his gaze slightly.

Xu Long continued without hesitation.

"I recognized Liu Shan and Lin Hui near the entrance. After learning what they were doing, I joined their investigation."

He delivered the explanation smoothly.

There was, of course, one detail he deliberately omitted.

He had been on a date with Zhao Ya’Er when he encountered the three men.

And he had absolutely no intention of mentioning that particular circumstance unless his boss specifically asked.

Fortunately, Lu Tian showed no interest in how his assistant had come to be at the lounge bar.

"What happened inside?"

Xu Long returned his attention to the report.

"Liu Peng entered through the back entrance and went directly to a private room at the end of the hallway. Qi Li followed him, while Liu Shan and Lin Hui entered through the front."

He explained how the lounge’s private rooms were concealed behind one-way windows and how the hallway surveillance later revealed Liu Peng using a coded knock before entering the last room on the right.

"Qi Li was approaching the room when five men emerged from another room and attacked him."

Lu Tian’s eyes narrowed.

"Five?"

"Yes, Boss. They chased him into the alley behind the building."

"And Qi Li?"

"He sustained minor injuries but we managed to subdue the five men."

Lu Tian gave no indication of surprise.

He knew enough about Yue Ling’s subordinates to understand that five ordinary men were unlikely to be a match for them.

Xu Long continued.

"During the confrontation, a black luxury sedan entered the alley. Liu Peng escaped in the back seat before we could intercept him."

"License plate?"

"Obscured. We’ve been tracing the vehicle through nearby surveillance cameras, but the trail has gone cold."

Lu Tian leaned farther back in his chair and folded his arms.

His gaze remained fixed on Xu Long.

"Continue."

"After regrouping, we returned to Liu Shan’s place to review the lounge’s surveillance footage."

Xu Long walked toward the table and activated one of the monitors.

A grainy image appeared on the screen.

It showed a long hallway lined with closed doors.

"Liu Peng entered this room," Xu Long explained, indicating the last door on the right. "Three men had arrived before him, and someone inside allowed him to enter after he used the coded knock."

The footage advanced.

"Qi Li managed to catch a glimpse of someone inside before he was attacked. At first, he believed he had seen a man who was supposed to be dead."

Lu Tian’s gaze sharpened.

"Who?"

"Someone they were close to."

For the first time since Xu Long began speaking, Lu Tian’s eyes shifted.

He did not interrupt, but his attention became unmistakably sharper.

Xu Long continued carefully.

"That was what led us to investigate Choi Li Sun."

Lu Tian’s brows drew together.

"Explain."

"Choi Li Sun has been helping Liu Peng. We confirmed his involvement after reviewing the footage and comparing it with information obtained from other sources."

Xu Long stopped the footage on the monitor.

"However, there was a reason we couldn’t locate him earlier."

Lu Tian waited.

"He underwent extensive plastic surgery."

A brief silence followed.

Xu Long continued.

"Before changing his appearance, Choi Li Sun erased nearly every trace of his former identity. The records we had were tied to the face he used to have. We kept searching for that man without realizing he had been moving around Imperial under an entirely different appearance."

Lu Tian’s expression remained unreadable.

"Do you know what he looks like now?"

Xu Long swallowed.

He had been expecting that question.

Yet hearing it from his boss made the information he was about to reveal feel considerably heavier.

"Yes, Boss."

Lu Tian watched him.

Xu Long lowered his gaze briefly before continuing.

"But there’s something else you need to know."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Lu Tian’s voice was quiet.

"Speak."

"Since we couldn’t find reliable information on Choi Li Sun, we had to approach people who knew him before he disappeared."

Xu Long paused.

"Qin Jun, Song Jing Li, and Yamato Kira."

Lu Tian’s eyes narrowed slightly. He recognized the names.

The three men from City Z sent by Chief Kim.

Their involvement wasn’t unexpected since they made it their life mission to find Choi Li Sun.

Xu Long continued.

"Before Choi Li Sun changed his appearance, he made sure to erase his records and sever his connections. But Qin Jun and the others had been investigating him for years. We believed that if anyone still possessed information about his past, it would be them."

Lu Tian remained silent.

"At first, I thought the information our side had gathered while working on the case would do but I confirmed that it was limited. So I arranged to meet Qin Jun and the others at their hideout."

Xu Long glanced at his boss before lowering his gaze toward the floor.

"But when I arrived, Liu Shan was already there."

Lu Tian’s brows furrowed.

"Liu Shan?"

"Yes, Boss."

Lu Tian studied his assistant.

From what he gathered, Liu Shan and Alpha Team had been investigating Liu Peng and Choi Li Sun.

What he had not known was that they were acquaintances with Qin Jun and the other two men from City Z.

Nor had Yue Ling mentioned any such connection.

"How long have they been working together?"

"From what I understand, they’re not working together. But have known each other since City Z. When it was confirmed to be Choi Li Sun in the footage, Liu Shan approached them."

Lu Tian’s gaze hardened.

"And why wasn’t I informed?"

Xu Long felt his shoulders stiffen.

"Liu Shan didn’t mention knowing them. And Boss, we were still verifying the information. That was the one-week promise I gave them."

Lu Tian said nothing.

That silence was considerably more intimidating than anger.

Xu Long swallowed another nervous breath.

He had worked beside Lu Tian for years, yet there were moments when even he found himself wishing his boss would simply raise his voice.

At least then he would know exactly how displeased the man was.

But Lu Tian merely watched him.

Waiting.

Xu Long silently offered a prayer for his continued survival.

Then he stepped forward and picked up a folder from the table.

"This is what Qin Jun and the others gave us."

He slid the folder toward his boss before retreating a step.

Lu Tian lowered his gaze.

The folder was thick.

Several documents had been marked with colored tabs, while photographs and surveillance stills were arranged between the reports.

He picked it up and opened it.

His eyes moved steadily across the pages.

Names.

Dates.

Financial transactions.

Records of movements between different cities and countries.

Information on Choi Li Sun’s former associates.

He turned another page then his hand stopped.

A photograph occupied the upper half of the document.

It showed a badly damaged vehicle.

The front had been crushed beyond recognition, and broken glass covered the road around it.

Below the photograph was an accident report.

Lu Tian’s gaze moved over the information then it settled on a name.

Lee Shin.

His fingers tightened slightly against the edge of the folder.

He knew that name.

Only yesterday, he had stood beside Yue Ling in front of a white tombstone bearing it.

He remembered the flowers she had placed there.

The quiet way she had spoken to the man resting beneath the earth.

And the tears she had tried so hard to hold back.

The owner of that grave was also named Lee Shin.

Lu Tian slowly read the report.

The accident had occurred three years earlier.

The official investigation had concluded that he lost control of his vehicle.

But the documents before Lu Tian told a different story.

The brakes had been deliberately tampered with.

The resulting crash had been staged to appear accidental.

Lee Shin had not simply died in a tragic collision.

He had been murdered.

Lu Tian’s jaw tightened.

A part of him prayed he was reading about two different people who shared the same name.

He turned the page.

A photograph of Lee Shin appeared.

It was different from the one displayed on his tombstone, but Lu Tian recognized him immediately.

The same face.

The same gentle features.

The man who had loved Yue Ling for ten years before his life was taken from him.

Lu Tian stared at the photograph.

He had known that Lee Shin’s death had left a wound in Yue Ling’s heart.

What he had not known was that the man had been deliberately killed.

And that someone had spent three years ensuring the truth remained buried.

His eyes returned to the report.

The evidence suggested Lee Shin had been conducting an undercover investigation into Choi Li Sun’s activities.

He had uncovered information that threatened to expose the man and those associated with him.

Before Lee Shin could reveal what he had discovered, his vehicle had been sabotaged.

The timing was deliberate.

The method had been calculated.

And the person responsible had allowed his death to be remembered as nothing more than a terrible accident.

Lu Tian’s expression grew frighteningly cold.

"Choi Li Sun?"

His voice was low.

Xu Long immediately understood the question.

"Yes, Boss. According to the evidence Qin Jun and the others collected, Choi Li Sun ordered Lee Shin’s death to silence him."

Lu Tian looked down at the photograph again.

Three years.

For three years, Yue Ling had mourned a man whose death she believed was an accident.

And the person responsible had remained free.

Xu Long hesitated before reaching for another photograph.

"Boss."

Lu Tian lifted his gaze.

"This is from the footage we recovered of Choi Li Sun."

He handed the photograph across the table.

Lu Tian took it.

The moment his eyes settled on the image, the atmosphere inside the room changed.

The photograph was a still frame captured from surveillance footage.

Although the quality was imperfect, the man’s face was clearly visible.

Lu Tian stared at it.

The resemblance was unmistakable.

The shape of his face.

His eyes.

The bridge of his nose.

Even the contours of his mouth.

It was almost identical to Lee Shin.

The only significant difference was the jagged scar running from the area above his right eye toward his cheek.

A scar Lu Tian knew all too well.

His fingers tightened around the photograph.

He had given Choi Li Sun that scar himself.

And now the man was wearing the face of Yue Ling’s deceased first love.

For several seconds, Lu Tian did not move.

Then he slowly placed the photograph beside Lee Shin’s picture.

Two faces.

One belonging to a man who had been murdered.

The other belonging to the man responsible.

Yet they were nearly indistinguishable.

Lu Tian’s jaw clenched.

"What else?"

His voice was so cold that Xu Long instinctively straightened.

Xu Long continued his report without leaving anything out.

He explained how the investigation had led Liu Shan and the others to Glory, one of Imperial’s well-known nightclubs.

"Gui Zhongmin encountered Ji Chu Hua there," he said. "During the same visit, he also came into contact with Choi Li Sun."

Lu Tian’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Ji Chu Hua.

The woman had already caused enough trouble for Yue Ling and the Ji family.

Her involvement in another suspicious matter was hardly reassuring.

Xu Long continued.

"Gui Tian Lan was also at Glory. He encountered the man he had been searching for."

"Who?"

"The man responsible for his girlfriend’s death."

Lu Tian’s gaze shifted toward him.

Xu Long explained that the woman’s death had initially been ruled a suicide, but subsequent evidence suggested she had been murdered.

Gui Tian Lan had spent years searching for the person responsible.

When he finally encountered the man at Glory, the situation escalated into an altercation.

"Unfortunately, the man escaped before Gui Tian Lan could apprehend him."

"Was Choi Li Sun involved?"

"We believe so. The surveillance footage showed the man communicating with a masked woman who later met Choi Li Sun outside the nightclub."

Xu Long activated another monitor.

Several still images appeared.

One showed Ji Chu Hua near the nightclub’s private area.

Another captured a man moving through the crowd.

A third showed a woman wearing a mask.

"The masked woman’s identity remains unknown," Xu Long explained. "But her movements suggest she was coordinating with the others."

Lu Tian studied the images.

"And Ji Chu Hua?"

"She was seen with Choi Li Sun."

Xu Long hesitated.

"We haven’t confirmed the full extent of their arrangement, but Liu Shan believes she’s more deeply involved than we originally suspected."

Lu Tian’s expression darkened.

Ji Chu Hua.

Choi Li Sun.

Liu Peng.

A murderer who had escaped justice.

And an unidentified woman.

Individually, each presented a problem.

Together, they suggested something far more complicated.

Xu Long continued.

"There’s another discovery."

Lu Tian looked at him.

"Qi Li returned to Red Militant’s former headquarters to check whether anything had been overlooked during the cleanup."

Xu Long brought up a new set of images.

"He discovered a concealed room connected to Hung Woo’s office. Inside was a safe that had already been forced open."

Lu Tian’s gaze sharpened.

"The surveillance footage showed Liu Peng returning to the headquarters several days after the organization was destroyed."

A video appeared on the monitor.

Liu Peng could be seen entering the building cautiously.

He moved through the deserted corridors before reaching Hung Woo’s office.

After some time, he emerged carrying a duffel bag and several folders.

"He took something from the safe," Xu Long explained. "We believe it may have included funds, confidential records, and information about Red Militant’s remaining connections."

The footage continued.

Liu Peng exited the building and approached a waiting vehicle.

Xu Long paused the recording.

"The sedan appears to be the same vehicle used during his escape from the lounge bar."

Lu Tian studied the image.

"Someone was waiting for him."

"Yes, Boss."

"This was planned."

Xu Long nodded.

"That’s what concerns us. Liu Peng didn’t search the building or hesitate over which room to enter. He went directly to Hung Woo’s office and retrieved the contents of the safe."

Lu Tian leaned back.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he looked toward the photograph of Choi Li Sun.

"If Liu Peng knew what was inside that safe, then Hung Woo wasn’t the only person he was answering to."

Xu Long nodded.

"That’s also Liu Shan’s suspicion. We think Choi Li Sun approached Liu Peng before Ji Jingxu’s kidnapping."

The room fell silent.

Lu Tian’s eyes moved between the surveillance stills and the documents spread across the table.

The more he learned, the clearer it became that Red Militant’s destruction had not ended the danger surrounding Yue Ling.

Someone had survived.

Someone had been preparing for what came afterward.

And Choi Li Sun had been moving through Imperial with a face that should have belonged to a dead man.

Lu Tian reached for Lee Shin’s photograph again.

He studied it in silence.

Only yesterday, he had accompanied Yue Ling to the cemetery in City Z.

He remembered standing beside her as she placed flowers before Lee Shin’s grave.

She had spoken to him about their marriage.

About the life she was building.

And about the child they had lost.

There had been sadness in her voice, but also a quiet acceptance.

For the first time in years, she had seemed ready to remember Lee Shin without allowing the pain of his death to overshadow her happiness.

Then they had walked along the beach.

She had smiled beneath the setting sun and told Lu Tian how grateful she was that they had found each other.

She had promised to spend the rest of her life showing him how much she loved him.

And he had believed that, at last, they could begin looking toward their future without another tragedy waiting to pull them backward.

Now, less than a day later, he was sitting in an underground room staring at evidence that threatened to shatter that peace.

Lee Shin had been murdered.

The man responsible had stolen his appearance.

And Yue Ling knew nothing about either truth.

Lu Tian slowly lowered the photograph.

He could imagine her reaction to learning that Lee Shin’s death had not been an accident.

But seeing the face of the man she had mourned on someone else?

That was something he could not begin to predict.

Would she recognize the resemblance immediately?

Would she mistake Choi Li Sun for Shin?

Or would the sight reopen wounds she had only just begun to heal?

His fingers curled against the armrest.

He had no intention of allowing Choi Li Sun anywhere near her.

Not while the man’s motives remained unknown.

"Boss?"

Xu Long’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

Lu Tian lifted his gaze.

"Any known locations?"

Xu Long shook his head.

"Not yet. Liu Shan and the others are following several leads, but so far, none have produced a confirmed location."

"Ji Chu Hua?"

"She’s still being monitored. Ju Suo and Lian Ni Shang are handling her movements."

"And Liu Peng?"

"Lin Hui and Qi Li are continuing the search. Tang Zhonghui is helping trace the sedan."

Lu Tian nodded faintly.

"Choi Li Sun?"

Xu Long’s expression grew more serious.

"We’re still trying to determine where he’s hiding. Qin Jun and the others are also investigating his former connections."

Lu Tian looked down at the photographs.

"Have they told my wife?"

Xu Long hesitated.

"No, Boss."

Lu Tian slowly raised his eyes and Xu Long swallowed.

"Liu Shan made the call not to tell her yet."

The silence that followed made him regret how bluntly he had delivered the answer.

Lu Tian’s expression remained unchanged.

"Why?"

"Because of the wedding."

Xu Long took a breath.

"Boss Lady has been through a great deal recently. With the wedding only days away, Liu Shan doesn’t want to burden her with something that hasn’t been fully investigated."

Lu Tian said nothing.

"He intends to tell her after the wedding," Xu Long added.

Lu Tian lowered his gaze.

He understood Liu Shan’s reasoning.

Yue Ling had only recently endured Ji Jingxu’s kidnapping, her grandfather’s worsening condition, and the memories stirred by returning to City Z.

Another revelation, especially one involving Lee Shin, would undoubtedly hurt her.

Yet keeping the truth from her was not without risk.

She was not an ordinary woman who needed others to make every decision on her behalf.

She was the leader of Fate.

Someone who had faced dangers far greater than most people could imagine.

And if she discovered that the people closest to her had concealed information directly connected to her safety, she would have every reason to be angry.

Lu Tian’s jaw tightened.

He did not like the position they had placed themselves in.

But neither could he ignore the danger of telling her before they understood what Choi Li Sun intended.

"Did Liu Shan ask you to keep this from me?"

Xu Long immediately shook his head.

"No, Boss."

He paused.

"I told him I would report everything to you as soon as you returned to Imperial."

Lu Tian studied him for a moment then he nodded.

"Good."

Xu Long quietly released the breath he had been holding.

At least he had made the right decision there.

Lu Tian turned his attention back to the documents. He understood why Liu Shan wanted to protect Yue Ling’s happiness.

He wanted the same thing.

But happiness built on ignorance could become another kind of vulnerability.

And he refused to underestimate a man who had murdered Lee Shin, changed his face, and successfully disappeared for three years.

Several minutes passed before Lu Tian finally closed the folder.

The sound was quiet, but Xu Long immediately straightened.

Lu Tian remained seated for another moment, considering everything he had learned.

There were too many unanswered questions.

Why had Choi Li Sun chosen Lee Shin’s face?

Why had he resurfaced in Imperial?

What did he want from Liu Peng?

And why was Ji Chu Hua involved?

The connection between these people was becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as coincidence.

Lu Tian stood. His tall figure cast a shadow across the table as he reached for his coat and adjusted it.

"Brief Wolf Team on the situation and have them assist with the search."

Xu Long nodded.

"Yes, Boss."

"I want Liu Peng found. Trace the sedan again, including every possible route out of Retro and the lounge district."

"Understood."

"Have someone investigate the surgeon responsible for Choi Li Sun’s new appearance. If he went to such lengths to erase his identity, there may be someone who helped him get in and disappear."

"I’ll arrange it."

Lu Tian’s gaze shifted toward the photograph of the masked woman.

"And find out who she is."

Xu Long followed his gaze.

"Yes, Boss."

Lu Tian paused.

"Tell Liu Shan to keep his people alert. Ji Chu Hua may be reckless, but Choi Li Sun has already proven that he knows how to plan."

Xu Long nodded.

"I’ll inform him."

Lu Tian reached for the folder.

"I’m taking this."

"Of course."

He gathered the documents and photographs, making sure nothing important remained behind.

Then he turned toward the door.

Xu Long hesitated.

"Boss?"

Lu Tian stopped.

"There’s one more thing."

Lu Tian looked over his shoulder.

Xu Long’s expression was solemn.

"We still don’t know why Choi Li Sun chose Lee Shin’s appearance."

Lu Tian’s eyes darkened.

"I know."

"If his intention was simply to hide, he could have chosen any face. But he chose someone whose death was directly connected to him."

Xu Long paused.

"Someone Boss Lady loved."

Lu Tian remained silent.

It was the same thought that had been troubling him since he first saw the photograph.

Changing one’s appearance to avoid detection was understandable.

But deliberately taking the face of a man one had murdered?

That suggested a purpose beyond concealment.

And Lu Tian could think of very few reasons that did not involve Yue Ling.

"Keep investigating," he said.

Xu Long lowered his head.

"Understood, Boss."

Lu Tian turned back toward the door.

"I need to get back to my wife."

His voice remained cold, but Xu Long heard the unmistakable concern beneath it.

He nodded.

"I’ll contact you as soon as we find anything."

Lu Tian opened the door and stepped into the corridor.

His footsteps echoed against the polished floor as he made his way toward the staircase.

Behind him, Xu Long remained standing beside the table.

He looked toward the monitor displaying Choi Li Sun’s altered face.

A chill settled over him.

The resemblance was too deliberate to be dismissed.

And the more he thought about it, the more he feared what would happen when Yue Ling finally learned the truth.

Lu Tian ascended the staircase and passed through the reinforced steel door into the freezer.

The cold air brushed against his face, but he barely noticed.

His thoughts remained on the photograph tucked inside the folder beneath his arm.

He had seen Lee Shin’s face only yesterday.

Carved into the memories of a man who had died three years ago.

Now that same face belonged to someone who should never have been allowed to wear it.

Lu Tian’s expression hardened.

He did not know what Choi Li Sun intended.

Perhaps the man wanted revenge.

Perhaps he intended to use his resemblance to Lee Shin to manipulate Yue Ling.

Or perhaps his plans were connected to something far more dangerous.

Until they uncovered his motives, Lu Tian could not afford to dismiss any possibility.

He stepped out of the freezer and entered the restaurant’s rear corridor.

The elderly man was still seated behind the counter, reading his newspaper.

When Lu Tian appeared, he glanced up.

"Leaving already, Mr. Lu?"

Lu Tian gave a slight nod.

"Mm."

The elderly man studied his expression for a brief moment.

Whatever had been discussed downstairs had clearly been unpleasant.

But he knew better than to ask.

"Take care."

Lu Tian acknowledged him with another nod before heading toward the entrance.

The bell chimed softly as he stepped outside.

Imperial’s streets were growing busier, with pedestrians passing storefronts and vehicles moving steadily through the intersections.

To everyone around him, it was an ordinary morning.

But Lu Tian knew that somewhere in this city, a man wearing Lee Shin’s face was moving freely among them.

He opened the door of his Maserati and placed the folder on the passenger seat.

Before starting the engine, he took out his phone.

His thumb hovered over Yue Ling’s contact.

He considered calling her.

Hearing her voice would ease the uneasiness in his chest, even if only briefly.

But he remembered promising her that he would return soon.

He lowered the phone.

He would rather see her himself.

The engine came to life.

As he drove away from Blackhawk, his thoughts returned to the woman waiting at home.

Only yesterday, she had stood beside him on the beach, smiling beneath the setting sun.

She had told him she loved him.

And he had promised himself that he would spend the rest of his life protecting that happiness.

Now, he understood that another threat had already begun taking shape.

He did not know when Choi Li Sun would make his next move.

He did not know why the man had chosen Lee Shin’s face or what he hoped to accomplish by wearing it.

But one thing was becoming painfully clear.

Danger was finding its way to his wife.

And the most unsettling part was that he still did not know what kind of danger was waiting for her.